Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe sought to restore his battered reputation on Sunday when he made an unprecedented appeal for an end to politically motivated violence.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark 30 years of independence from Britain, Mugabe called for Zimbabweans to treat each other with tolerance and respect in a country where at least 600 people are reported to have been murdered by his militias in the past decade.
It was the 86-year-old president’s most unequivocal denunciation of political violence. But sceptics pointed out that the sentiment was little different from Mugabe’s call for reconciliation three decades ago, and was probably calculated for international consumption.
Mugabe, wearing a green sash and chain of medallions, told a rally of about 30 000 people in the capital, Harare: “Your leadership in the inclusive government urges you to desist from any acts of violence that will cause harm to others and become a blight on our society.
“As Zimbabweans, we need to foster an environment of tolerance and treat each other with dignity and respect irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation.”
In a fairly mild speech by his strident standards, Mugabe criticised Britain, America and other western countries for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwean leaders over charges of vote-rigging and rights abuses. But there was none of the usual name calling in what has become a ritual attack on what he sees as imperialist forces.
Call for peace?
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), partner in a unity government with Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, told Parliament last month that 253 people were killed and more than 200 000 uprooted during election-related violence in 2008. Numerous incidents of torture, illegal arrests and other rights violations were also reported.
The party on Sunday night remained cautious about Mugabe’s call for peace. Nelson Chamisa, a government minister who was beaten by police three years ago, said: “When dealing with politicians, the best thing is to not just read the words but read the actions.
“As much as the statement is meant to paint optimism, it’s just half the journey. The full journey is to be completed when we see positive action so the perpetrators of violence are dealt with and we see the state being the real custodian of peace and stability in the country.”
There was deeper scepticism from the pressure group Zimbabwe Democracy Now, which argued that, even as the president spoke, Zanu-PF was preparing to unleash a fresh wave of terror.
The group said weapons have been imported from China, hate speech was escalating in state media and messages of intimidation include: “Last time it was a beating, this time it’s a bullet” and “Watch out after the World Cup.”
It warned that Zanu-PF’s youth militia camps have never been fully dismantled and are being re-established in areas where MDC supporters are being targeted.
Zanu-PF received a shot across the bows recently from an unexpected quarter. Julius Malema, leader of the African National Congress Youth League, praised Mugabe during a recent visit to Harare — which made it all the more of a shock when he explicitly warned the party not to resort to violence in elections.
Zimbabwe’s leaders watched military displays at the national stadium today, which was reopened after being shut for three years for structural repairs by Chinese engineers. Crowds cheered and whistled for Tsvangirai when Mugabe formally welcomed him to the celebrations.
Despite criticism that the move would damage the economy and discourage foreign investment, Mugabe said he was pressing on with plans to transfer 51% of shareholdings in foreign companies over the next five years to black Zimbabweans after a decade of seizing and transferring white-owned farms to black people. – guardian.co.uk